Writing articles summarizing the manifold problems of the formerly Golden State is turning into a cottage industry - seemingly everybody takes a crack at it. Here is yet another written by Robert J. Cristiano, for New Geography.
Cristiano's particular twist on the story is to compare what is happening today in California with what happened in the last half of the twentieth century to the city of Detroit. I've got to admit, the parallels are uncomfortably close: one-party government, deteriorating industry, collapsing schools, and population outmigration are major components.
Yes, the article is somewhat repetitive of former efforts, but the Detroit parallel is worth your reading effort.